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épave

wreck

noun eh-PAV Rare

Also means

shipwreck

Usage Note

Épave originally referred to a drifting vessel or cargo washed ashore (legally ownerless), and it is still the technical term for a sunken shipwreck. Figuratively, une épave humaine describes a person who is a complete wreck — broken by life. It is feminine despite ending in a consonant sound.

Examples

"Les plongeurs explorent l'épave du navire."

Natural Translation

The divers are exploring the shipwreck.

Literal Translation

The divers explore the wreck of the ship.

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